Each week we take a look at some of the sporting events which will either dominate the weekend sporting headlines or which will provide an insight on the wider sporting landscape.
Cricket at Malahide
Friday 1045 to around 1830
Live on Sky Sports
England come to town which is always a big draw, especially when this is their first warm-up game for hosting the Cricket World Cup on May 30th.
This is a first home international against them since 2015 when the rain got in the way. No such clouds on the horizon today.
UEFA Euro U17 Championships Republic of Ireland Vs Greece
Friday Night
Tallaght Stadium
Live on RTÉ 2
The cream of Europe’s finest you g football talent will be playing around Ireland between now and May 19th and it is a great opportunity for kids in particular to witness top class international football effectively being played in their back yard.
The Irish team is a mix of English and domestic based players and is looking to fly the flag for an underage set up that has been delivering on a European stage. It all gets underway at Tallaght Stadium tonight with tickets available on the gate from as little as €10 and all kids getting in for free.
Punchestown Family Day
Saturday
Punchestown, County Kildare
The biggest prizes will have been given out during the week but the Family Day has grown into the biggest attendance of the Punchestown Festival and of Irish Racing throughout the year.
There is good quality races but also a strong focus on family entertainment. You might also get to rub shoulders with Ruby Walsh, one of the greatest jockeys we have ever seen in the sport who stepped down from the saddle during the week and who will be watching on Saturday from the same ground level perspective as us.
Ulster Vs Connacht
Kingspan Stadium, Belfast
Saturday 1735
Live on eir Sport
This will be the end of the season for one of the provinces and a possible springboard to the Guinness PRO14 Final in Glasgow for the other.
There are two quarter-finals on Saturday with Munster hosting Benetton Treviso at Thomond Park but the magic of a derby game with a ‘win or go home’ outcome is the one to catch the imagination.
Connacht won the last meeting between the sides in Galway in December but that was only their seventh win from 32 previous encounters and Ulster will be buoyed by last week’s victory over Leinster and a desire to continue Rory Best’s Ulster career for another wee while yet.
Bohemians Vs Cork City
Dalymount Park, Dublin
Friday, 1945
Bohs can nudge to within a point of Shamrock Rovers tonight if they beat a Cork City side facing into life after John Caulfield.
It has been a shocking season so far for the Leesiders and they sit just three points ahead of UCD in ninth place. The atmosphere at Dalymount throughout this season has been very special and will be again tonight.
